Our little navel orange!

Not quite sure why we need to be this specific, but according to the pros, the baby (as of this Sat.) will be about the size of a navel orange.

Maybe because the baby is near my navel? No surely, that's not why, but way cuter than the real reason, don't you think?

(P.S. Google image "navel orange" at your own risk. Seriously, don't try this at home. Just trust me.)

Baby Bump - 14 Weeks



Baby's First Moves -- a Jared Wright Production

Fortune Cookies

 

I LOVE children's books. So much so in fact, that I recently had a complete meltdown when I thought my parents inadvertently sold at a garage sale the stash I'd saved since childhood for my own children. Despite the fact "The Princess and the Pea," and "There's a Nightmare in My Closet," among other faves are safe and sound on my bookshelf patiently waiting to be dusted off, it's no surprise I've already begun buying children's books.

Take today for example. Aroma Cafe in the valley has the most adorable bookstore and I couldn't pass up a gorgeous sunny yellow hardback that screamed to be read. Called "Fortune Cookies" by Albert Bitterman, the adorably and sweetly illustrated book takes us through a week's worth of fortunes that predict a likable little girl's daily happenings:

Yesterday I got a box in the mail.

It had seven fortune cookies in it.

On Sunday, my fortune said (then you pull out the tab to read, Tomorrow you will loose something you don't need)

And guess what? (Turn the page)

My tooth came out!

It goes on to build on this fortune with six others, all expertly woven together:

Money is like the wind

Try to find the good with the bad

Don't hide your feelings

Good things come to those who wait.

Be careful what you wish for

Seven is your lucky number. 

I'm sure it's the pregnancy hormones kicking in, but I was so enthralled with the sweetness of the book and the image in my mind of me reading to a sweet little child, that I hastily made my way to the register before I could change my mind. 

But in classic Dawn fashion, the over-analyzer kicked in as I was being rung up. I heard the voice in my head asking, "What message is this teaching your child?" "Are fortune cookies biblical?" "Are you teaching him/her to be superstitious?" "Don't you want your child to know all blessings come from the Lord, and only He knows our future?" "Are you teaching pre-determinism or free will?" "What the heck do I believe anyway?"

Reluctant to return it, I quickly counterpointed. For starters, do I really want to be THAT parent? You know, the one that not only bans refined sugars and transfats, but Harry Potter and Halloween to boot? Besides, when our little one is old enough to understand more complex concepts, this could be an excellent tool to teach him/her about other cultures; and things in the world that are games and just for fun - not something to live your life by. It could be a conversation-starter about the difference between "luck" and "blessings." But in all honestly, our child will probably be so fixated on the subplots - from the cute kitten the little girl finds, to how fun it is to build forts on rainy days - that our precious little one will most likely be protected from any potential lifelong theological scarring.

And just as I sat down to write this post, I remembered a fortune I've kept in my wallet ever since Jared and I decided to have a family. It says, "you will soon witness a miracle." There's no doubt in my mind this baby is a blessing from God and not the prediction of a cookie, but it was a beautiful moment reading that message when we were so full of hope, and I bet I hold on to it for a while for memory's sake, theology notwithstanding.

Our Little Peach

Quick blog post!

We just had our 1st Trimester Screening and it went PERFECTLY. We're so happy that we've got a healthy little one on the way. Right now - at 12.5 weeks - he/she is about the size of a peach ... a nickname to rival Blueberry! 

And the doctor gave us his best guess as to gender, but we're keeping it under wraps until we know for sure! Stay tuned! Our next appointment is March 4 in the morning.

Tiny Dancer

Apparently I'm still learning "doctor speak." So when your OBGYN says, "I'll see you in three weeks and we'll draw blood for your 1st Trimester Ultrasound" she means "Schedule an appointment for three weeks from now JUST to draw blood," ... not "At your next appointment in three weeks we'll also draw blood." Regardless, my doctor had some extra time on Tues. and was nice enough to do a sonogram "just because" (fun!!!) before sending me off to the lab for more blood work (not fun!!!)

And I could just HUG her for doing so because it was the most amazing, mind-blowing, memorable experience EVER! For starters, we've progressed to the point of getting to use the "on the tummy" sonogram (that's better) and secondly ... I not only saw the baby's heartbeat (which never gets old) ...  I saw the baby MOVE!!!

It startled me at first but my doctor assured me it was a healthy sign. I just can't believe that at 12 weeks, and at about the size of a lime, we've got: arms, legs, fingers and toes (with nails!), eye sockets that clench, and a mouth that makes sucking movements and can suck its thumb! According to all the books, the baby can even get hiccups at this point! But what the books won't tell you - and what I clearly witnessed - was that 12-week old babies in the womb can DANCE.

We were staring intently at the heartbeat when all of a sudden, the baby started moving rapidly in what can best be described as aggressive full-body sit-ups, or more accurately, krumping. Any self-respecting person would have watched the past few seasons of "So You Think You Can Dance" and will know exactly what I'm talking about, but for my mom - who likely comprises about one-third of my readership - imagine violent hip hop. (It's cooler than it sounds).

We've got our 1st Trimester Ultrasound scheduled for next Tuesday and Daddy's coming with. I can't wait for him to see our Tiny Dancer!